Tongue for plows



no Mbdel.) v T. L. RICHARDSON;

TONGUE FOB FLOWS, MOWERS, 6w.

No.'245,865 Patented Aug. 16,1881.v

UNITED STATES THOMAS L. RICHARDSON,

OF EDINBURG, INDIANA.

TONGUE FOR PLOWS, MOWERS, 80C.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 245,865, dated August 16, 1881.

Application filed June 11,1881. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS L. RICHARD- SON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Edinburg, in the county of Johnson and State of Indiana, have invented a new and Improved Jointed Tongue for Sulky-Plows, Mowers, and other Agricultural Implements, of which the following is a specification.

With draft-tongues of common construction the turning of the plow or mower, as at the end of a furrow or swath, has to be accomplished by pulling the horses to one side, when the side pressure of their shoulders on the neck-yoke and front end of the tongue drags the machine around-a slow and laborious operation.

My invention relates to means whereby the turning of the machine can be accomplished by a direct forward pull of the horses on the traces. l

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a perspective view of the jointed tongue as applied to a sulky-plow. Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal section of the joint.

The tongue is formed of two parts, A and B, of which A is fastened by the usual means to the hounds or frame of the machine, while the part Bis pivoted to the forward end of the part A by bolt 0. A semicircular metallic disk or frame, E, is fastened to the rear end of the pivoted tongue B, either by flanges projecting from it and screwed to the tongue, as shown, or otherwise. To the rear part, A, of the tongue is screwed or otherwise attached a plate, F, a flange, f, of which extends over the curved portion of the semicircular disk, and is pierced at f, for the reception of a spring or other stop, G, a shoulder, g, of which, when the stop is in its elevated position, enters a notch, e, in the semicircular disk and prevents the turning of the disk and theton gue B. When, however, the stop is pressed down, as by the drivers foot, the shoulder is removed from the notch and the disk and tongue are free to turn, the side movement being stopped by shoulders e of the disk.

In operation, the tongue being in its straight or normal position, it will be held in such position by the catch Gr to the end of the furrow or swath being run. When, however, it is desired to turn the machine, as to make a cross-furrow, the driver, pressing down with his foot on catch G, releases it from the notch in the disk, and by pulling the horses they are turned around until the shoulders e of the disk strike on the plate F, or as far short of that as he may desire, according to the angle to be turned. The catch G, beingheld retracted by the shoulder g, slides under the edge of the disk. Then, starting the horses up, the two parts of the tongue are swung once more into line by the draft of the traces, the catch springs back to its place, and the new furrow or swath is made. By repeating this operation the machine can be doubled on itself, and a return furrow made without any side strain on the tongue or horses.

The flanged plate F not only serves as a guide to the segmental disk E, but by hearing on the upper face of said disk prevents the swagging of the tongue when turned from its support on the end of the stationary por tion A.

In a sulky-plow the double-tree D is preferably connected directly to the beam H. In a mower the double-tree is attached by the jointbolt 0, or by a separate bolt or clevis on the rear member of the tongue, as preferred.

Having thus described my invention, the following is what I claim as new therein and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. The combination, with segmental disk E and tongue 13, of the stationary guide-plate I projecting over said disk and preventing swagging of the tongue, as set forth.

2. In combination with the divided tongue A B,the plate F, having flangef, segmental disk or frame E, having notch c and shoulders c, and stop or catch Gr, all substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

THOS. L. RICHARDSON.

Witnesses:

MAnIsoN LORD, WM. F. HAMILTON. 

